Tea party members from across N.J. gather in East Windsor

Tim Farrell/The Star-LedgerJeff Weingarten, left, listens to former state Sen. Richard LaRossa at an April 6 tea party leader gathering. LaRossa spoke today at a tea party convention in East Windsor.

EAST WINDSOR — Coming together to discuss strategies to win control of the Statehouse, tea party members from across the state kicked off their "citizens convention" this morning.

The gathering of about 150 tea party members is being called the "Battle for Trenton" to highlight their desire to win seats in this fall legislative election. James O'Keefe, who gain fame with surreptitiously filmed videos of Acorn, NPR and the New Jersey teachers union, will be giving the key note address at lunch this afternoon.

Former state Sen. Richard LaRossa delivered the opening remarks, encouraging members to support their candidates but be pragmatic and not hold them to "impossible litmus tests." LaRossa, a Republican, served two terms in the state Senate, losing a bid for reelection in 1997.

"We are at war, if we are going to survive with our liberty intact we must be wiling to declare a revolution," LaRossa said. "Who are we at war with? the war is with politicians who continually want to deprive of us as our hard work and money," LaRossa said.

He went on to deride the President Barack Obama, leadership in Congress and Democrats elected in New Jersey.

But LaRossa cautioned tea party members not to expect political candidates to adhere to every ideal they hold.

"Our perfect candidate may not exist," LaRossa said. "You have to decide what you can live with or without for now."

After tea party-backed candidate are elected, he said, it's important for members to try to hold them accountable to the people who elected them. But he offered another caution, adding that participating in government may require a politician to work with others.

"There is a pragmatic side to virtually everything," LaRossa said. "We may have to realize that people we support may have to negotiate, not compromise."